Escape Velocity

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must reach to break free from a planet or other celestial body's gravitational pull without additional propulsion. For Earth, this speed is about 11.2 kilometers per second (around 25,000 miles per hour). At this velocity, the object has enough kinetic energy to overcome gravity's pull entirely, allowing it to move away indefinitely without falling back. Think of it as the speed needed to "escape" the planet's grip without further engines fired. This concept helps us understand how spacecraft are launched and how celestial bodies influence objects nearby.